With Jake right beside him, and Nia still sound asleep in his arms, Ian didn't have much trouble getting the Secret Service to let him into the sitting room in the upstairs of the White House. Sam and Jack were there, although Jack still looked positively awful. His face was wan, and tired, and his eyes were red and puffy with a slightly distracted expression, but he looked over as the door opened and Ian was relieved to see that he didn't seem to have any of that wildness that had been there the last time he'd seen him. In fact, he actually managed a smile when Jake rushed over and threw himself into his father's lap before anyone could tell him to stop.

"Hey, Jake…" Jack murmured, holding his son tightly. "How was A&W?"

"We went to the park, too…" Jake told him, but clearly wasn't going to be distracted by the question. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

It was clear he wasn't okay, though, and even Jake didn't look convinced. Sam was quick to step in, though. Jake shouldn't be worrying about his dad, after all. He had enough trouble just being a little boy. She stood up, and took Nia from Ian with a soft smile.

"Why don't we go put Nia to bed, sweetheart?"

Jake clearly didn't want to, but Jack didn't give him the chance to rebel.

"Good idea. I need to speak to Ian for a minute, anyways."

Even Jake knew that was a dismissal. A gentle one, but a definite one. He nodded, and hopped off the couch, following Sam, who glanced back with a worried look before leaving the room.

Jack sighed and leaned back into the sofa, closing his eyes. Obviously he wasn't as okay as he'd been pretending to be while Jake was in the room.

"What's going on, Ian?"

Ian shook his head.

"What do you mean, Jack?"

"I mean, why are you here?"

"To try and help."

"With a puppy."

It sounded sarcastic, but Ian knew that it was a lot more than that. There was fear, loneliness and a whole lot of pain in that statement, and he understood completely. Even more than Jack did, really.

"He's your best shot, Jack."

"I don't want another dog."

"But-"

"Teal'c lost Jack."

"I know."

Jack had been killed during an attempt on Teal'c's life. The Jaffa had taken over as leader of the Jaffa resistance years before, and every system lord in the known universe had claimed him as a mortal enemy. Jaffa had been trying to kill him ever since – and one had come very close to succeeding. Only Jack had been quick enough to save Teal'c, and had taken the staff blast that would surely have killed Teal'c.

"And now he has to worry about Trip."

Trip had been a gift from Andrew Stephens. A chocolate lab son of Jack Junior who looked nothing like Jack, but had all the sweetness and courage of the breed.

"He doesn't worry about him."

"How do you know?"

"They were in Atlantis a few months ago."

Jack scowled.

"He didn't tell me he was in the neighborhood. I haven't seen him in almost six months."

"He wasn't in the neighborhood. He came to Atlantis to find out if I or McKay could come up with a way to let the Jaffa utilize those Ancient personal shields."

O'Neill didn't look mollified, but he did lose the scowl, and his own natural curiosity made him ask the obvious question.

"Did you?"

Ian shook his head, sitting down now – although not too close to Jack.

"No. Cassie and Beckett even tried the Ancient gene therapy on a volunteer, but it didn't work."

"I don't want that puppy," Jack said, changing the subject back to the original one. "I can't handle losing Jaffer, and I don't need the same problem in ten years. Give him to Jake."

"He's not for Jake, Jack," Ian told him, his temper close to the edge – despite the fact that he hadn't really expected Jack to want the puppy – and knew everyone else already thought he was fighting a losing battle. "He's for you."

"I don't want him."

"Too bad."

Jack's expression darkened, and he glared at Ian – who privately thought it was better to see him angry than hurting.

"Get out."

Ian didn't bother to pick a fight just then. There really wasn't any reason to – and the results would just cause a lot of injured pride and hurt feelings. Instead he stood up.

"What are you doing for dinner?"

"Nothing. Get out."

"I think I'll see if Sam wants to have dinner with me and the boys."

Despite himself, Jack looked interested.

"Cassie's here?"

Ian nodded.

"She brought the twins. We're going to have dinner with mom and dad. You're invited."

He'd invite Sam, Jake and Nia when he went to see her next.

Jack grunted noncommittally, but Ian didn't press it. He knew Jack would want to see Cassie. He complained all the time about her not being around enough. Instead, he turned and left, going through the same exit Sam had taken with Jake and Nia.

OOOOOOOOOO

Not surprisingly, Sam was waiting for him just outside the nursery – with Jake standing right beside her.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

Ian shrugged.

"He kicked me out."

She frowned, but Ian gave her a wry smile.

"I pretty much goaded him, so it's no big deal." He looked down at Jake, who was watching him mournfully, obviously scared about what was going on with his dad. "You mind if I steal Jake for the rest of the afternoon, Sam?"

Jacob's face lit up immediately, and Sam smiled at the quick change.

"Of course not. No strip joints, though."

Ian chuckled.

"Cassie would kill me long before you got ahold of me."